Now a single parent, Bianca faces one of her biggest challenges yet over the next few weeks as her teenage son Liam (James Forde) joins a dangerous gang.

Palmer told Radio Times of the storyline: "There hasn't been mention of Ricky yet, but I will put it to the writers that there should be, because he is Liam's dad. They're not on bad terms and Liam has gone to stay with him at times.

"And I would like to see Sid come back - there's a lot of comedy in Ricky and Bianca, and it's a shame when viewers don't get to see that on-screen relationship."

Palmer explained that she also wants Bianca to share more scenes with Ray Dixon (Chucky Venn), the biological father of her son Morgan.

She commented: "He's a great dad. Every time he steps into that house, he's got that hero quality. I've said that it would be nice to have more of Ray around, but not for anything sexual or as a love interest.

"Usually in soaps, if there's a hunky bloke there it has to be about sex. Same if there's a beautiful woman. But people have got lots of other qualities and I'm sure there are lots of guys who might look at him and think, 'Yeah, I could be like that and make a real difference'."